46 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1876. 



REPOKT ON VEGETABLES. 



Committee.— Alexander Marsh, Chairman ; Thomas R. Norcross, J. 

 D. Lovell, Charles Belcher, and William H. Hackett, of Worcester. 



The Committee on Yegetables have attended to their duties and report 

 as follows : 



There has never been a 3'ear when there was so close competition in 

 the different lots as the present. It was almost impossible to tell exactly 

 what we ought to do. Although ilmost unanimous in our opinions on the 

 various lots, yet some might think we did not use our best judgment ; 

 but we will assure you we had no favorites. There were several premiums 

 offered for articles which were not on exhibition. There was not quite sO 

 large a show as some previous years, owing in some measure to the ex- 

 tremely hot weather. We must mention those most delightful Water 

 Melons, the largest and sweetest we ever gave a premium to, and we would 

 recommend to those wishing to improve their Melons to get some of the 

 premium seeds. 



We do not think the small farmers or gardeners quite understand 

 the present arrangements in the Hall of Ceres. There are no 

 large collections as formerly, but it is so arranged that a person who 

 owns a few rods of land can compete for the premiums as well as 

 the largest farmers, and is as sure of his premiums, if he has the best 

 Beets, Cabbages, Squashes, Onions, Beans, Potatoes, Corn, Tomatoes, 

 or Melons, &c. 



Your Committee would most earnestly recommend that in future the 

 premiums be offered and given to the best and most perfect specimens, 

 without regard to size ; what we mean is, such as people would be most 

 likely to bur at the market for their own use. The object is to improve 

 the quality, instead of the large, overgrown products, which have to be 

 fed out to the cattle to get rid of them. If an arrangement could be 

 made whereby the articles could be on the tables by four o'clock, the 

 Committee would have time to arrange them before the evening services 

 begin, and very much lighten their evening's work. 



